Review Insights · App Store
Couchsurfing Travel App
CouchSurfing International Inc. · 8,861 ratings · ★ 4.6
4.6
★★★★★
8,861 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 44 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"money"
12 negative reviews mention this · 27% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Unusable. Can't log in Search is ruined We're being charged money for an unusable app Bring back old functionality or risk losing all users" - Kyle Kuzman
2
"without"
9 negative reviews mention this · 20% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Immediate paywall. I was referred to this app via a fellow traveler. I wanted to check it out to see if it’s something I could do and how it works. I downloaded the app and before I could see the platform I’m met by a paywall. There’s no way around it so you …" - atl84t
3
"update"
7 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Update =Disappointed. Never have I ever regretted an app as much as I do now! Tell me what is happening there! Purple plaid? what's happened to your great marketing team." - yalda mnfz
4
"people"
7 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "The upgraded version is buggy and just a pretty shell. the UI upgrade is great but the app got so buggy. Cannot filter by last login just sucks. Some hosts have not logged in for years but is part of the search result. Some people never hosted but is shown as “hosted 150 travelers”. Some people…" - aohxbnsosh
5
"payment"
6 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Immediate paywall. I was referred to this app via a fellow traveler. I wanted to check it out to see if it’s something I could do and how it works. I downloaded the app and before I could see the platform I’m met by a paywall. There’s no way around it so you …" - atl84t
6
"version"
5 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "The upgraded version is buggy and just a pretty shell. the UI upgrade is great but the app got so buggy. Cannot filter by last login just sucks. Some hosts have not logged in for years but is part of the search result. Some people never hosted but is shown as “hosted 150 travelers”. Some people…" - aohxbnsosh
7
"years"
5 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "The upgraded version is buggy and just a pretty shell. the UI upgrade is great but the app got so buggy. Cannot filter by last login just sucks. Some hosts have not logged in for years but is part of the search result. Some people never hosted but is shown as “hosted 150 travelers”. Some people…" - aohxbnsosh
8
"free"
5 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Save yourself the five bucks. You have to subscribe to find out that no one is actually active on here. I’m going to a metro area in the Midwest for 4 months and was looking for no frills accommodations. People were either non-responsive or not active. I also listed my …" - Wheel Lyfe
📋 All 44 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Unusable
Can't log in
Search is ruined
We're being charged money for an unusable app
Bring back old functionality or risk losing all users
Search is ruined
We're being charged money for an unusable app
Bring back old functionality or risk losing all users
New update BROKE APP
So many problems. Was this vibe coded? Probably. The app will die quickly if you don’t fix, it is unusable.
Worst update ever
Worst update ever, is sluggish and slow almost not operational at all. Half of the options work
Give the OLD version back!!
The new update is completely awful. It’s sick and weird and uncomfortable at all. Where are hangouts? I cannot see it any more. Profiles are so hard to navigate now. Why would you ever change the design of the app? Previously everything was just perfect! Now it’s the worst experience ever. If you don’t give the old app back, I would change to other services
May 2026 updated app is terrible 😣
Have been on this platform for 10+ years and the app is the worst I have seen!
What happened
After update app has become almost useless, unfriendly for users, full of unfixed bugs, and annoying ads. When I exit and re inter all information is gone so I need to start everything from the scratch it is disgusting. What happened to app every time i have to re subscribe in it whenever I exit and after i have to inter again what’s wrong with you oo dear developers did you do it intentionally?
Awful update, no respect to users
The new update is laden with bugs in the signup process, which suddenly and unexpectedly forces the user to pay for an account. Not only did there seem to be no QA on this major update, but they’re showing disrespect to longtime users like myself. At least give us time to export our friend data if we don’t want to pay. Just awful all around.
Garbage Update
The app is even less user-friendly and does not encourage actually reading profiles of hosts and surfers. It now looks like a busted version of Tinder. We have been saying that we want CS to not only be used like Tinder but after a decade of no updates, we get this garbage.
Redo is HORRENDOUS!
The redo of the app is horrible, seriously, who approved that?
Was excited to try it
Then I get slapped with a subscription wall literally two seconds after joining. Can’t seem to bypass it so i can’t even try it.
Платно, за что? Непонятно
Требуют плату сразу после регистрации, якобы они пострадали от COVID, по-моему это мошенничество.
За что вы требуете плату, не понятно, может ваше приложение не функционирует так как мне надо а я буду отдавать деньги в пустую, ужасное приложение, не рекомендую
За что вы требуете плату, не понятно, может ваше приложение не функционирует так как мне надо а я буду отдавать деньги в пустую, ужасное приложение, не рекомендую
Not Good for Asia or Australia
I have been traveling for a few months now in Thailand and Indonesia and Australia and haven’t found a place to stay. I payed the $60 to get verified plus the subscription fee and I just can’t seem to get anyone to host me. It really takes a long time to research and write a request and then 90% of the time the dates don’t work out or they say they are hosting but are actually in China for three months. Very frustrating thought it would be easier.
Save yourself the five bucks
You have to subscribe to find out that no one is actually active on here. I’m going to a metro area in the Midwest for 4 months and was looking for no frills accommodations. People were either non-responsive or not active. I also listed my place for someone to stay while I would be away - whole house, rent-free, by the beach just so it wouldn’t be sitting empty while I’m gone. Literally zero interest. Absolute waste of time and money.
Immediate paywall
I was referred to this app via a fellow traveler. I wanted to check it out to see if it’s something I could do and how it works. I downloaded the app and before I could see the platform I’m met by a paywall. There’s no way around it so you can’t even check out the app
or how it works without the paywall. I’ll be deleting immediately but it wanted to warn others. Charging for a service makes sense but at least let people see how it works and details before you ask them for payment sheesh. I’ve tried all 3 options given to me and can’t do anything unless I pay first…feels like a scam.
or how it works without the paywall. I’ll be deleting immediately but it wanted to warn others. Charging for a service makes sense but at least let people see how it works and details before you ask them for payment sheesh. I’ve tried all 3 options given to me and can’t do anything unless I pay first…feels like a scam.
Paid service
They used Covid to change from a community to a greedy business. For years I only hosted and even so I was forced to pay to continue to be a member.
Waste of time
You can’t even access this app without them asking for money/donation. No upfront disclosure about this either
Waste of time here
Waste of time here
Cannot Search without Paying 😭
App asks for payment before using. It would be better to see if there are any places worth staying and allow people to search. And then provide some sort of payment plan to proceed with booking. But what’s the point of paying and then finding out you cannot use or find a place. Do not recommend.
rip off
Somehow, through my iPhone, this thing made me pay for the app twice. And somehow, I am not able to get access to my account. So I paid twice, and I have zero access, this is the worst app I've ever downloaded. I'm going to contact Apple to dispute the charges.
Pfft
People who use an app like this obviously are low on funds and as soon as you download the app, you hit a paywall talking about we’re doing this because of Covid that happened five years ago. You want me to spend money on something I haven’t even seen ? You don’t even offer a free trial … Im gonna go see if there’s another app.
BUY before you try?
I don’t think so. What kind of app requires you to pay for something before you even catch a glimpse of the platform? VERY scammy and absolutely would not proceed.
Forced Donation
I just tried redownloading the app to just be refreshed by it and try to understand it better and I was met with a forced screen that I could not pass that was “humbly asking” for a “donation.”
It said:
“We humbly ask you to contribute and support the Couchsurfing community.”
It’s neither humble, nor asking to force a screen that doesn’t allow you to pass into the app without spending money. That’s called payment and false advertising. It’s not a donation if it’s required to access the app and its benefits.
Don’t masquerade behind humility and asking for donations as if you’re giving the user an empowered choice while locking the app and experience from being used unless the person “humbly decides to donate”.
It said:
“We humbly ask you to contribute and support the Couchsurfing community.”
It’s neither humble, nor asking to force a screen that doesn’t allow you to pass into the app without spending money. That’s called payment and false advertising. It’s not a donation if it’s required to access the app and its benefits.
Don’t masquerade behind humility and asking for donations as if you’re giving the user an empowered choice while locking the app and experience from being used unless the person “humbly decides to donate”.
Barely active meme era
Hi. Very useless App! I registered a few weeks ago. The process of registration was super complicated, the link for a verification for the email didn’t work multiple times. Then you have to answer a ton of questions and it takes a day to verify. I am still in the free version. I paid 4,99$ for first time registration.
That’s ok. Now I just was charged another 4,99$ and I don’t know why. I have the free version.
Also : if you search for a location, there are maybe 300 and more people in the area , but all are not active or blank or inactive since 7 years.
So from 300 or more only the first 3 are active members. Then you text them but you only have 10 attempts to text hosts.
Totally useless app, old, complicated! Complete waste of time and money! I want my second charge refunded! Thanks
That’s ok. Now I just was charged another 4,99$ and I don’t know why. I have the free version.
Also : if you search for a location, there are maybe 300 and more people in the area , but all are not active or blank or inactive since 7 years.
So from 300 or more only the first 3 are active members. Then you text them but you only have 10 attempts to text hosts.
Totally useless app, old, complicated! Complete waste of time and money! I want my second charge refunded! Thanks
Hangout feature?
The hangout feature on the IOS is no longer functioning as of August 23, 2025! Please fix it.
Лаги
После последнего обновления невозможно пользоваться. Все виснет, лагает и вылетает.
They Ruined It.
They ruined this app. Pre-Covid it was the best thing to use instead of AirBnB or Booking.com…now it’s just a shell of its former self. Someone please put it out of its misery. Nothing lasts forever and now I can only recall the memories I made by using this app.
RIP Couchsurfing. 🕊️🙏
RIP Couchsurfing. 🕊️🙏
Need to pay
I was going to use it, and I realized they didn’t even give guy the chance to have demo version, to try before subscribing. I’ll never pay for something I never seen.
👎
If you charge money for using the app, you should make that clear upfront - before forcing the user to go through registration.
Pandemic is Over
Stop making excuses of pandemic to force people to pay. Greedy people also increased the monthly amount from $2 to now $5…Geez
Money required just to see the app. NO!
I refuse to pay for an app without taking a look inside!
Then they send you emails every few days as if you are using it.
Then they send you emails every few days as if you are using it.
Disappointed! Cannot log in/Asking for money
They are asking for money for donation but it is a subscription to pay every month or year. So, basically they made the free app only accessible through subscription. :( I cannot even log in since it is asking me to pay. :(
unable to explore without giving $$??
how can i determine if i want to donate to you if i can’t even explore the app??
How sad!!
They’re forcing you into a subscription-based service! I can’t even access my history/messages/nothing!! I loveddddd CS - but what they did is awful.
B
The app literally isn’t working nor letting me log in or create an account, whats going on??
Misleading Verification - Hidden Charges and No Refunds
Couchsurfing’s verification process is completely misleading. They ask for your card details without clearly stating there’s a $60 charge, and once they take your money, there’s no refund. It feels like a scam. Be warned before you enter your payment info.
Guys rather use BeWelcome or Couchers.org
It seemed like the payment changes during the pandemic were out limits - but no. Now they’ve introduced a mandatory verification fee. Terrible. This platform has turned into a purely commercial club.
All CS idea is ruined 😡😡😡
I definitely do not recommend it!
All CS idea is ruined 😡😡😡
I definitely do not recommend it!
Awful
They require you to donate to even use the app. No thanks! I’ll just stick with hotels and AirBNB
Charge me 60 $
Without showing any notification about the amount of verification they charge me 60$ dollar
And then I sent to them several emails but they didn't refund my money
This is a kind of defraud 🤬🤬
And then I sent to them several emails but they didn't refund my money
This is a kind of defraud 🤬🤬
Paid app, not free
Mandatory donation
فارسي
چرا زبان فارسي نداره
اين يه برنامه است كه هيچ ربطي به حكومت نداره و مربوط به مردمه چرا فارسي نداره
اين يه برنامه است كه هيچ ربطي به حكومت نداره و مربوط به مردمه چرا فارسي نداره
Update =Disappointed
Never have I ever regretted an app as much as I do now! Tell me what is happening there! Purple plaid? what's happened to your great marketing team.
The upgraded version is buggy and just a pretty shell
the UI upgrade is great but the app got so buggy. Cannot filter by last login just sucks. Some hosts have not logged in for years but is part of the search result. Some people never hosted but is shown as “hosted 150 travelers”. Some people is shown as having multiple references but when you click the profile it says zero.
Lots of bugs
App crashes, worst of all notifications are really bad.... I've lost many opportunities bc no notifications.
The idea is great just the app needs work🙏🏽
The idea is great just the app needs work🙏🏽
Voiceover accessibility and chat (inbox) window
I don’t like the voiceover accessibility of this app on IOS as a TOTALLY BLIND person, when not being able to scroll pages. I don’t like the basic “inbox” window where neither can I organize chats, nor can I filter the chats by new messages / unread messages…. I don’t like that I DON’T HAVE ANY NOTIFICATIONS AT ALL from my app, even though my iPhone settings are adjusted….
Asking for payment now
Ok I understand the need to make money to host a website but you are asking for credit card payment without any encryption or security protocol. Beyond that why not just host ads? Doesn’t make any sense.
Sentiment summary
91%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
7%
Negative (1-2★)